ison this
light which dazzled him, and which opposed to his enrapturing dreams the
disenchanting reality.

The king, who had wanted to impose a special punishment in condemning
him to darkness--the king had, contrary to his intention, become thereby
his benefactor. For with darkness came dreams and fantasies. With the
darkness came Geraldine.

When night and silence were all around him, then there was light within;
and an enchanting whisper and a sweet, enticing voice resounded within
him. The gates of his prison sprang open, and on the wings of thought
Henry Howard soared away from that dismal and desolate place. On the
wings of thought he came to her--to his Geraldine.

Again she was by him, in the large, silent hall. Again night lay upon
them, like a veil concealing, blessing, and enveloping them;--and threw
its protection over their embraces and their kisses. Solitude allowed
him to hear again the dear music of her voice, which sang for him so
enchanting a melody of love and ecstasy.

Henry Howard must be alone, so that he can hear his Geraldine. Deep
darkness must surround him, so that his Geraldine can come to him.

He demanded, therefore, for his last night, nothing further than to be
left alone, and without a light. The jailer extinguished the light and
left the cell. But he did not shove the great iron bolt across the
door. He did not put the large padlock on it, but he only left the door
slightly ajar, and did not lock it at all.

Henry Howard took no notice of this. What cared he, whether this gate
was locked or no-he who no longer had a desire for life and freedom!

He leaned back on his seat, and dreamed with eyes open. There below in
the yard they were working on the scaffold which Henry Howard was to
ascend as soon as day dawned. The dull monotony of the strokes of the
hammers fell on his ear. Now and then the torches, which lighted the
workmen at their melancholy task, allowed to shine up into his cell a
pale glimmer of light, which danced on the walls in ghost-like shapes.

"There are the ghosts of all those that Henry has put to death," thought
Henry Howard; "they gather around me; like will-o'-the-wisps, they
dance with me the dance of death, and in a few hours I shall be forever
theirs."

The dull noise of hammers and saws continued steadily on, and Henry
Howard sank deeper and deeper in reverie.

He thought, he felt, and desired nothing but Geraldine. His whole soul
was concentrated in t